F-M tops local teams at Pro-Junior Challenge

Once more, the Fayetteville-Manlius girls golf team topped all the other Section III sides present for Tuesday’s Nice-N-Easy Grocery Shoppes Pro-Junior Challenge – but some visitors ended up with the title.

A quartet from Section V joined the 10 other teams in the field at Drumlins Country Club, then proceeded to snatch the top spot in the standings, beating the Hornets by two shots.

As part of the Duramed Futures Tour’s Alliance Bank Golf Classic, professionals teamed with high school teams in a nine-hole, best-ball tournament, played this time at Drumlins’ West Course (the Futures Tournament is on the East course).

F-M’s veteran lineup – Alex Seabury, Sara Simons, Maria Mintskovsky and Carly Kidd – did not disappoint at all. Paired up with Swedish professional Sofie Andersson, the Hornets recorded a pair of eagles, on the 1st and 5th holes, and finished with an eight-under-par total of 28.

But the Rochester team, featuring Ali Ince, Emma Ritzman (both from Fairport), Kristen Bromley (Pittsford Sutherland) and Emily Rowlands (Honoeye Falls-Lima), joined professional Lindsey Bergeron for a 26, 10 under par, and snatched the title from F-M, who won this same event in 2009.

East Syracuse-Minoa, who shot a 32, had Kristina Hartung, Erin Marcy, Brianna Winslow and Sarah Hillbrand paired with professional Laura Crawford. Jamesville-DeWitt had a 32 as Kara Capstraw, Lindsay Sherling, Hali Greenhouse and Molly Hair joined Whitney Wade.

Fletcher isn’t done, either. As the reigning Section III champion, she will tee off in the Alliance Bank Classic on Friday, along with F-M graduate Jillian Fraccola, who will be the first off the 10th tee at 7:50 a.m with Martin and Kristen Simpson. Fletcher heads off at 2 p.m. with Rachel Bailey and Sarah Brown.